Mines (11-10, 4-5 RMAC) vs. #12 Regis (17-5, 9-1 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (11-10, 4-5 RMAC) vs. UCCS (7-15, 5-5 RMAC) – Lockridge Arena – Saturday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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RMAC PLAY RESUMES
After last week's non-conference pod, the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team resumes Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action this weekend inside Lockridge Arena. The Orediggers are set to host #12 Regis on Friday at 7 p.m. They'll welcome UCCS to Golden, Colo., on Saturday for a 5 p.m. match. Only five matches remain in the regular season, and each one looms large for Mines as the Orediggers continue to battle for a spot in the conference tournament.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans are encouraged to purchase digital tickets or print tickets at home ahead of this week's matches by going to www.minesathletics.com/tickets. This will expedite the entry process to Lockridge Arena. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children, seniors, and military members. Mines faculty, staff, and students get in free with their Blaster Card.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Free live video will be offered on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. In fact, all of Mines matches for the rest of the season will be available on the RMAC Network. There will also be free live stats this weekend at the individual links above.
 
NATIONAL SANDWICH DAY
Friday, Nov. 3, is designated as National Sandwich Day. As such, Oredigger volleyball will help Colorado School of Mines students celebrate by giving out free Chick-fil-A sandwiches to the first 50 students who arrive at Lockridge Arena. Friday's match will also feature additional in-game promotions and giveaways.
 
NATIONAL CANDY DAY
It's a weekend full of national days. After Friday's sandwich celebration, Saturday brings National Candy Day. We know everyone has all that leftover Halloween candy, and it all went on sale on Wednesday morning as well. Needless to say, Mines Athletics and Oredigger volleyball took advantage and are ready to load up anyone and everyone who comes through the door Saturday evening.
 
POD PONTIFICATION
Colorado School of Mines volleyball last took the court for the second RMAC pod of the season last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The Orediggers were the hosts with Colorado Christian and CSU Pueblo serving as the guests. Mines started the three-day bonanza with a bang, sweeping CCU for its third win of the season over the Cougars. Rose Stuewe had 12 kills on .409 hitting. Emily Knight added 11 kills on .444 hitting with five total bocks. Madison Glassco grinded out 15 digs. The Orediggers hit .407 as a team. Friday night saw CCU take a 3-1 win off of CSU Pueblo. On Saturday, Mines was swept by the ThunderWolves despite three service aces from Meghan Slaninka and nine as a team. None of the matches counted towards the RMAC standings.
 
RMAC RUNDOWN PART I
With the 2023 regular season winding down, the field for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament is starting to take shape – kind of. Nationally-ranked Regis, MSU Denver, and Colorado Mesa have all but assured themselves berths in the conference postseason, currently sitting #1, #2, and #3, respectively. CSU Pueblo is in a similar boat at #4. However, who wins the regular season title and the top seed is still up in the air. On the other end, Black Hills State has been mathematically eliminated from the RMAC Tournament. Adams State, Western Colorado, and New Mexico Highlands are not far behind.
 
RMAC RUNDOWN PART II
That leaves seven teams, including South Dakota Mines, Chadron State, UCCS, Colorado Christian, Westminster, Mines, and Fort Lewis, to duke it out for four remaining spots. Six of those teams are within two games of each other in the standings. The Orediggers are currently #10 in the conference standings with a 4-5 record. However, Mines is just one win away from being tied for #7. Chadron State's 6-5 mark has the Eagles alone at #6. UCCS is alone at #7 thanks to its 5-5 record. Colorado Christian and Westminster are both 5-6. Right behind Mines is Fort Lewis at 4-6. The Orediggers and Skyhawks have yet to play. They'll face off on Friday, Nov. 10, in the penultimate match of the regular season.
 
COUNTING ROSE'S KILLS
Rose Stuewe surpassed 1,000 kills for her career during Mines' first road trip of the year which took the Orediggers to California and The Cougar Classic hosted by Cal State San Marcos. The milestone kill came against Concordia Irvine when she tied the third set at 19-19. Mines went on to win the match in four sets. Now, with five matches remaining in the regular season, Stuewe touts 261 kills for the year and 1,185 for her career. As of Thursday the Texan needs just 81 kills to break onto Mines' all-time career list.
 
PRESLEY POWELL
Oredigger true freshman setter Presley Powell has established herself as one of the best in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference during her inaugural collegiate season. In the very first match of her post-prep career, the Texas native dished out 64 assists which tied for #7 in the Mines record book. Those 64 assists are also tied for the most in any NCAA Division II four-set match this season. With five matches remaining, Powell's 10.97 assists per set rank #11 in NCAA Division II and #2 in the RMAC. Her 867 total assists are #41 in the nation and also #2 in the RMAC.
 
GOING THE DISTANCE
The Orediggers have played four five-set matches during the 2023 so far. They boast a record of 3-1 in those contests. It marks the most five-set matches Mines has played during the regular season since 2019 which featured a quartet of five-set showdowns as well. The Orediggers were 1-3 when going the distance in 2019. Also notable are seven five-set matches for the Orediggers during the 2018 regular season. They dominated the marathon affairs with a mark of 5-2.
 
SCOUTING REGIS
Regis University volleyball will make the short trip to Golden with an overall record of 17-5 in tow. The Rangers also sit 9-1 in RMAC play putting them at the top of the conference standings. Teams that have defeated Regis this season along with their current national rankings include #7 Cal State San Bernardino, #21 Central Washington, #1 Wayne State (Neb.), and #11 Colorado Mesa with CMU accounting for two of RU's losses. In fact, during last weekend's pod, the Rangers were swept by the Mavericks in Denver. Lucky for Regis, the match did not impact its RMAC record. As a team, the Rangers are #7 in the nation in blocks per set and #9 in hitting percentage. Individually, Klaudia Sowizral leads a balanced offense with 226 kills on .355 hitting. Mara LeGrand coordinates that same balanced offense as one of the best setters in the league with 787 assists handed out at a clip of 10.49 assists per set. Haley Kennedy anchors the back row on the merits of 3.96 digs per set. At the net, it's Amelia Davis with 91 total blocks and Nadine Burbink touting 90 total blocks. Also notable are Kennedy's 33 service aces.
 
MINES AGAINST THE RANGERS
Friday will mark the 80th meeting between Mines and Regis on the volleyball court. The Rangers hold a 50-28-1 advantage in the all-time series, but the Orediggers have won the last two showdowns. Last season, Mines ended RU's season in the NCAA tournament thanks to a five-set win at MSU Denver. Rose Stuewe fueled the victory with 24 kills on .316 hitting. Stuewe also helped the Orediggers sweep the Rangers in Golden during the 2022 regular season thanks to 16 kills on .448 hitting. Regis has won six of the last 10 matches against Mines. The Orediggers haven't lost to RU in Golden since Sept. 21, 2019.
 
SCOUTING UCCS
Under second-year head coach Tara Hittle, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Volleyball team is 7-15 overall with a 5-5 mark in RMAC play. The Mountain Lions take a three-match losing streak to #8 MSU Denver on Friday before coming to Golden on Saturday. They played Regis on Tuesday and fell in three sets. During last weekend's pod, UCCS was swept by South Dakota Mines and fell in four sets to Fort Lewis. The Mountain Lions did start conference play with three straight wins. Lauryn Shockley's 206 kills in tops on team, but she hits just .163. Nicole Medlin touts 182 kills on .317 hitting. Coach Hittle uses two setters to run her offense. On defense, it's Mackenzie Ransom with 266 digs and Medlin with 58 blocks.
 
MINES AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
The Orediggers lead the all-time series with UCCS by a 31-24 margin. Mines has taken 16 straight matches from the Mountain Lions including five straight sweeps. The Orediggers' win streak against UCCS dates back to Nov. 9, 2012. Mines faced off against the Mountain Lions once last season. The match in Colorado Springs end in a 3-0 win for the Orediggers. Eight blocks, nine aces, and .403 hitting as a team fueled the victory.
 
SHE'S THE BOSS
Head Coach Jamie Magalei is in her 16th season leading the Mines volleyball program in 2023. She is easily the program's all-time leader in total wins and win percentage at 350-119 (.746). As of Aug. 30, 2023, her winning percentage ranked inside the top-20 among active coaches in NCAA Division II, and her total wins were top-50 in the same category. Additionally, her current winning percentage is top-25 all-time in DII. Magalei surpassed 300 career wins in 2021. She's one of six to reach the milestone while coaching in the RMAC. Through 2022, Magalei has coached 31 all-America selections, three Academic All-Americans, and 63 all-conference performers. Her resume also includes three Regional Players of the Year, two Regional Freshmen of the Year, and 16 RMAC major award winners. Magalei has guided Mines to six RMAC regular-season championships, and five RMAC Tournament titles with 13 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. The North Dakota native also guided the Orediggers to either a conference regular-season or tournament title every season from 2012-21 including a sweep of both in 2015.
 
UP NEXT
Mines travels to #8 MSU Denver next Wednesday before hosting Fort Lewis and Western Colorado on Friday and Saturday. All three matches will include live stats and free video on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on Twitter at @MinesVolleyball and on Instagram at @mines.volleyball. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.